Rodrigo Cavaca Rodrigo Cavaca is a top fighters in the Super Super heavy weight division in jiu jitsu (more commonly know by its Portuguese name, the “Pesadissimo” jiu jitsu division. Rodrigo is also one of the main coaches of the Checkmat BJJ team....

Renato Forasieppi Canuto was born on June 13, 1996 in southern Sao Paolo Brazil.  He is a Checkmat Jiu Jitsu team representative and is part of a new movement in today's grappling competitors (like Garry Tonon) who work extremely hard to make the...

Bill Cooper is a grappler from the United States who earned the rank of black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the supervision of Ricardo Miller. Bill is known as “Bill The Grill” – a nickname derived from his exquisite set of teeth....

Gokor Chivichyan is an Armenian judo, submission grappling, and mixed martial arts instructor. Chivichyan currently trains professional and amateur fighters at the Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood, California, United States. He was named by Black Belt Magazine as “Judo Instructor of the...

Rick Hawn is a former Olympic Judoka and professional MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter. As a professional MMA fighter from 2009 to 2015, Hawn most notably competed for Bellator MMA. It was here that Rick Hawn won the Bellator Season 6 Light Weight...

Rodolfo Vieira is a four time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) World Champion and a six time World Cup champion. Rodolfo’s nickname is “Caçador dos Faixas Pretas” which translates to “Black Belt Hunter.” He was given this nickname after he won the World Pro...

Murilo Bustamante is considered a legend in two of the most demanding combat sports around. He is a former UFC Middleweight Champion, BJJ World Champion, and founder of Brazilian Top Team, which is one of the top MMA teams in the world. He...

Leo Saggioro Leo Saggioro is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Ricardo Marques. Leo is often known as ‘Cascão,’ a nickname from a famous comic book character from the collection ‘Turma da Mônica’ (translates to Monica’s Gang) by Mauricio de Sousa. Saggioro...

Gregor Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie. Gregor is not actually a member of the Gracie family by blood. His real name is Gregor Rangel, and he is the half brother of Rolles and Igor Gracie, who are...

Luiz Panza is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who is considered one of the top heavy weight competitors of his generation. Luiz is a black belt under the legendary Marco “Barbosinha” Barbosa. Luiz Panza got his start in a career as a...

Lucas Lepri is a Brazilian grappler with an extensive portfolio of accomplishments. Lepri is one of few who have won all 4 “major” championships at the adult black belt level. These four majors include the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan American Championships, the European...

Felipe “Preguiça” Pena is a black belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor under Marcelo Azevedo. Felipe’s nickname  “Preguiça” is Portuguese and means lazy, or sloth. His nickname was given to him by Vinicus “Draculino” when Felipe Pena was a teenager. Pena was very lazy...

Lyoto Carvalho Machida is a professional mixed martial artist from Brazil who currently is signed with Bellator MMA and competes in the middle weight division. Lyoto Machida formerly competed for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). It was here that Machida was the former...

Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento is a current and multiple time Brazilian jiu jitsu world champion. Leandro holds a black belt under Cicero Costha and no longer trains at Cicero Costha Academy in São Paulo, Brazil. He has created the NS Brotherhood team...

Kristian Woodmansee is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under André Galvão. Kristian’s nickname is the “Dream Killer,” a promotional name he uses while competing. Kristian is considered by many to be one of the top rooster weight competitors of his generation. He...